Apparatus, system and method for dispensing paper from a paper roll

ABSTRACT

A paper roll dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention comprises outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means for restraining inner windings of the paper roll from unrolling while simultaneously separating an outer winding of said paper roll from its inwardly-adjacent winding, and tension-supplying means for pressing a restraining edge of the outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means against an outside layer of the paper roll, both when the paper roll is substantially full and as the paper roll becomes depleted. Preferably, the paper roll also comprises tack adhesive means for adhering successive windings of the paper roll to one another when the outer winding is not pulled away from its inwardly-adjacent winding and simultaneously enabling the adhesion to be broken without substantial tearing of the paper when the outer winding is pulled away from its inwardly-adjacent winding.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of writingimplements such as pens and pencils combined with papers sources, andparticularly to improving the mechanism by which paper is dispensed fromthe barrel of such a combined writing implement, or from a similardispenser.

[0002] Devices combining a writing implement with a paper source havelong been known in the art. One of the earliest such combined devices isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 640,543, which discloses a rolled strip ofpaper inside a tubular pencil case. Since then, a wide variety ofcombined writing implement and paper holding devices have sought toimprove upon the basic ideas and mechanisms of U.S. Pat. No. 640,543.These include U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,359,725; 1,431,722; 2,005,110; 2,073,719;2,076,035; 2,081,036; 2,224,470; 2,601,650; 3,963,358; 4,327,875;4,872,775; 4,963,048; 5,024,547;

[0003]5,158,384; 6,135,661; Des. 329,459; Des. 346,619; and Des.338,036.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 1,322,966 varies the idea of combining paper and awriting implement by placing a paper roll outside the writing implementas a separate attachment. U.S. Pat. No. 2,111,362 adds a rolled calendarto the basic writing implement. U.S. Pat. No. 2,301,364 discloses apencil with a booklet contained therein. U.S. Pat. No. 2,517,445dispenses a rolled ticker tape. U.S. Pat. No. 3,552,869 dispenses rolledstamps. U.S. Pat. No. 2,287,618 dispenses rolled toilet tissue. U.S.Pat. No. 4,030,842 discloses a flexible sheet which is extended from andretracted into a writing implement for storing information.

[0005] Several of these patents, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,431,722and 2,512,168 also disclose a ratcheting or similar one-way mechanism toprevent paper from being rolled back into the writing implement once ithas been unrolled out of the writing implement, which is generallydesirable unless one of the goals is to roll the paper back into thewriting implement, as is the case when the paper roll is used to storeinformation (e.g., for the calendar of U.S. Pat. No. 2,111,362).

[0006] Helpful summaries of much of this prior art are provided in U.S.Pat. No. 4,812,069; 4,963,048; and 6,135,661.

[0007] One of the most important operational aspects of a combinedwriting implement/paper dispenser is the mechanism for dispensing thepaper out from the writing implement. It is important to simultaneouslyprevent the paper from unrolling inside of the writing implement, whilealso making it easy for the paper to unroll when it desired to dispensepaper from the writing implement. Many of the patents noted abovedisclose mechanisms for dispensing paper which are prone to undesiredjamming or tearing of the paper, are difficult to load or unload,require complex threading of the paper, do not enable easy dispensationof the paper, and/or are extremely complex from a mechanical andcost-of-production standpoint. Some of what appear to be the morecomplex dispensing mechanisms among the patents cited earlier includethose disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,073,719 (see, e.g., FIG. 4);2,224,470 (see, e.g., FIG. 4); 2,287,618 (see, e.g., FIG. 5); 2,601,650(see, e.g., FIGS. 14-18); 3,963,358 (see, e.g., FIG. 13); and 4,812,069(see, e.g., FIG. 6).

[0008] One of the problems is that in the above patents, the paper rollitself is unsecured at its ends, and thus tends to unravel inside thepen, especially as the paper supply is depleted and the paper has moreroom inside the pen barrel to unroll. This problem is partially resolvedby U.S. Pat. No. 1,266,299 to Moore, which uses a roll that has scoresproximate its edges (along the line 40) and is glued together along itsedges (outside of the line 40). U.S. Pat. No. 2,512,168, also to Moore,uses a scoring similar to that of U.S. Pat. No. 1,266,299, but whereinthe scoring converges as one approaches the center of the roll.

[0009] While this does help to secure the edges of the paper to preventunraveling, it does not address the issue of how to peel off the outerlayer of paper from the inner layers when it is desired to dispense somepaper from the writing implement.

[0010] Especially as the paper supply depletes, the outer surfacewinding of the rolls disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,266,299 and 2,512,168(and indeed, of the rolls in all of these patents) resides further fromthe edge of the writing implement barrel and the slot through which thepaper is pulled, and it becomes more and more difficult the get thepaper edges to protrude through the dispensing slot. Indeed, the basicproblem is that as the roll is depleted, it becomes more important tosecure the roll in such a way that it will not unravel inside thewriting implement, and yet, by securing the roll precisely when it isdepleted and thus its outer surface is further from the slot, it thenbecomes harder to “leaf off” the outer edge of the paper, through theslot.

[0011] It would therefore be desirable to have a simple mechanism fordispensing rolled paper from the barrel of a writing implement (or froma paper roll dispenser generally) that simultaneously secures the paperroll from unrolling inside the barrel while “leafing” up the outermostlayer of the paper roll through the barrel slot for easy dispensation,especially when the paper supply is largely depleted.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] A paper roll dispensing apparatus in accordance with theinvention comprises outer winding separation and inner winding restraintmeans for restraining inner windings of the paper roll from unrollingwhile simultaneously separating an outer winding of said paper roll fromits inwardly-adjacent winding, and tension-supplying means for pressinga restraining edge of the outer winding separation and inner windingrestraint means against an outside layer of the paper roll, both whenthe paper roll is substantially full and as the paper roll becomesdepleted.

[0013] Preferably, the paper roll also comprises tack adhesive means foradhering successive windings of the paper roll to one another when theouter winding is not pulled away from its inwardly-adjacent winding andsimultaneously enabling the adhesion to be broken without substantialtearing of the paper when the outer winding is pulled away from itsinwardly-adjacent winding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] The features of the invention believed to be novel are set forthin the appended claims. The invention, however, together with furtherobjects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference tothe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a mixed perspective and schematic view of a paper rollbarrel for use in connection with, e.g., writing implements, in apreferred embodiment of the invention using a paper roll with tackadhesion.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view if FIG. 1 taken along the line22, when the paper roll is relatively full.

[0017]FIG. 3 is the same cross sectional view as is FIG. 2, but is takenwhen the paper roll is relatively depleted.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a mixed perspective and schematic view of a paper rollbarrel for use in connection with, e.g., writing implements, in anembodiment of the invention using a paper roll with.

[0019]FIG. 5 is a mixed plan and exploded perspective view illustratinga non-limiting, mechanically-based exemplary implementation of atension-supplying means that aids in both restraining and separatingpaper from the paper roll in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020]FIG. 1 shows a paper roll dispenser 1 barrel in a preferredembodiment. Dashed lines are used to show visually-hidden elements.Dispenser case 102 comprises a paper roll dispensing aperture 104,similarly to the slots used in much of the prior art referenced above.Also similarly to the prior art, residing inside of dispenser case 102is a paper roll 106. In a preferred embodiment, the successive paperwindings of paper roll 106 are secured to one another preferably alongtheir outer ends using a tack adhesive means 108 for providingsufficient adhesion between said successive windings when a leading edge110 of paper roll 106 is not pulled away from its inwardly-adjacentwindings and simultaneously enabling said adhesion to be broken withoutsubstantial tearing of the paper when leading edge 110 (i.e. theoutermost winding) of paper roll 106 is pulled away from itsinwardly-adjacent windings. (Please note that while tack adhesion alongthe outer ends is preferred, as will be discussed, the tack adhesive canin fact be used in other locations as well.) Quite suitable for tackadhesive means 108 is any adhesive means similar in character to theadhesive used in commonly-used Post-It®Notes, which allows successivesheets of paper to adhere to one another in a pad while awaiting use,and allows sheets to be removed from the pad without substantial tearingwhen said sheets are gently pulled away from the pad. In an alternativeembodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the paper ends are scored or similarlyweakened for tearing along tearable lines 402, and are glued togetheralong their outside edges using any suitable general adhesive means 404for adhering said successive windings to one another, includingadhesives stronger than tack adhesive means 108 which may thus not allowfor separation from one winding to the next without tearing alongtearable lines 402, similarly to the paper roll used in U.S. Pat. No.1,266,299.

[0021] As in some of the prior art, paper roll 106 is dispensed throughdispensing aperture 104 by rotating (112) paper roll 106 about itsrotational axis 114 relative to dispenser case 102. Rotating 112 can beachieved by a variety of means known in the art including by rotating aspindle 116 running through rotational axis 114 of paper roll 106 usingany suitable rotating means 118 such as the illustrated end cap with aspindle receptacle 120 mating with spindle 116. It is preferred, thoughnot required, that rotating 112 be restricted to one direction only asschematically illustrated by the directional arrows on 112, using any ofa variety of directional rotation restriction means known in the art forenforcing such one-way rotation. Even more preferably, rotating 112should be fully unrestricted in one direction (the “unrolling” directionas illustrated), and restricted to a fractional part of a full rotationin the other (“rolling”) direction. This allows unrestricted unrolling,but allows a user to roll the paper back up through, for example, notlimitation, a quarter or eighth or sixteenth of a rotation but not anyfurther for fine adjustments as may be needed from time to time.

[0022] Now, as discussed earlier, one problem in the prior art is thatif successive windings of paper roll 106 are not secured to one another,preferably at their ends, the paper tends to unravel inside the pen,especially as the paper supply is depleted and the paper has more roominside dispenser case 102 to unroll. That is why it is preferred toemploy tack adhesive means 108 as shown in FIG. 1, or alternativelytearable lines 402 in combination with general adhesive means 404 asshown in FIG. 4. But, as also discussed, this, by itself, does notaddress the issue of how to peel off the outer layer of paper from theinner layers when it is desired to dispense some paper from the writingimplement, especially as the paper supply depletes and the outermostsurface winding resides further from dispenser case 102 and dispensingaperture 104. That is, this addresses how to prevent the paper fromunrolling when it is desired that the paper not unroll. But it does notaddress how to ensure that the leading edge 110 (i.e., the outermostwinding) of the paper roll will unroll when it is desired to have thisleading edge 110 unroll.

[0023] To resolve this problem, FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 also discloses anouter winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 forsimultaneously restraining the inner windings from unrolling whilecausing the outer winding to separate from its inwardly-adjacentwinding, in combination with tension-supplying means 124 for causingsaid outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 toflex inward toward the rotational axis 114 as the paper supply isdepleted. As a result of this tension-supplying means 124, a restrainingedge 126 of outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means122 will always press against the outside layer 128 of paper roll 106,both when paper roll 106 is full, and as paper roll 106 becomesdepleted. At the same time, because leading edge 110 is threaded outsideouter winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122, theplacement of outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means122 between leading edge 110 and outside layer l28 will always cause theoutermost winding to separate from the rest of paper roll 106 as paperroll 106 is rotated in the unrolling direction. This is seen bycontrasting FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, when paper roll 106 issubstantially full, outer winding separation and inner winding restraintmeans 122 is angled such that its restraining edge 126 is further fromrotational axis 114, while in FIG. 3, when paper roll 106 is relativelydepleted, outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122is angled such that its restraining edge 126 is closer to rotationalaxis 114. In all cases, outer winding separation and inner windingrestraint means 122 is angled such that its restraining edge 126 pressesagainst outside layer 128 of paper roll 106. Note also the preferred(but not required) concave curvature of outer winding separation andinner winding restraint means 122 as viewed from rotational axis 114.

[0024] Finally, it is to be observed that once a desired length of paperhas been dispensed, this desired length is severed from paper roll 106by tearing against a cutting edge 130 of dispensing aperture 104, as isthe case in much of the prior art discussed above. (Cutting edge 130 maycontain a blade (with due consideration for safety), serrations, or anysimilar reasonable paper severing means known in the art for safelyeffecting such severing.)

[0025] After severing, leading edge 110 will reside proximate cuttingedge 130 and will not protrude substantially out of dispensing aperture104. It is important for leading edge 110 to remain proximate dispensingaperture 104 after severing so that it will be accessible next time itis desired to dispense more paper. It is thus to be observed from thecross-sectional FIG. 2 that there is an overlap region 202 through whichouter winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 overlapswith a region of dispenser case 102 adjacent cutting edge 130. In FIG.2, overlap region 202 circumscribes an approximately 30 degree overlapangle with a fairly full roll, but this overlap angle can be varied asdesired to be any angle greater than 10 degrees and any angle less than120 degrees for a full paper roll, recognizing that this angle willdecrease slightly as the roll is depleted and outer winding separationand inner winding restraint means 122 becomes more sharply angledrelative to dispenser case 102. If the concave curvature of outerwinding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 is suitablychosen, the overlap angle can be made a large as 180 degrees, so thatouter winding separation and-inner winding restraint means 122 actuallyspirals around part of the paper roll. The preferred magnitude of thisoverlap angle is greater than 15 degrees, and less than 75 degrees, withan optimum minimum of 30 degrees and an optimum maximum of 60 degrees.So long as leading edge 110 remains within overlap region 202 aftersevering, it will in fact remain accessible for when it is next desiredto dispense more paper.

[0026] In the event that rotating 112 is optionally restricted to afractional part of a full rotation in the “rolling” direction as notedearlier, using suitable one-directional rotation restriction means knownor obvious in the art for allowing free rotation in the unrollingdirection while restricting the rotation in the rolling direction, thefractional rotation allowed in the restricted direction should be lessthan the angle of overlap region 202 for an empty paper roll 106. Thisensures that once the paper is severed, the severed edge of the paperwill always remain within overlap region 202 between outer windingseparation and inner winding restraint means 122 and dispenser case 102,and cannot be wound back into the roll past restraining edge 126. Thisin turn ensures that the leading edge 110 of paper roll 106 is always inoptimum position for dispensing, the next time such dispensing isdesired. Thus, if overlap angle 202 is, say, 45 degrees (i.e., oneeighth of a full revolution) for a full paper roll (the state of affairsin FIG. 2), then any back-winding allowed in the restricted directionshould be less than 45 degrees.

[0027] However, even if back-winding (turning in the winding direction)is completely unrestricted (which is allowable but less preferred), itwill always be possible to bring leading edge 110 out through dispensingaperture 104 simply through forward winding (turning in the unwindingdirection). In particular, even if leading edge 110 is wound all the wayback, the fact that restraining edge 126 always presses against theoutside layer 128 of paper roll 106 no matter how full is paper roll 106will cause restraining edge 126 to “leaf” under leading edge 110 aspaper roll 106 is wound forward in the unwinding direction and peel itback off from the remainder of paper roll 106. Once this occurs, furtherforward winding through the angle of overlap region 202 will naturallycause leading edge 110 to emerge from dispensing aperture 104.

[0028] Because tension-supplying means 124 presses restraining edge 126of outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122against outside layer 128 of paper roll 106, both when paper roll 106 issubstantially full as in FIG. 2 and as paper roll 106 becomes depletedas in FIG. 3, paper roll 106 is effectively restrained from unrollinginside of dispenser case 102, even in the absence of tack adhesive means108 (FIG. 1) or general adhesive means 404 combined with tearable lines402 (FIG. 4). However, when tack adhesive means 108 or general adhesivemeans 404 combined with tearable lines 402 are included as well, thenthe paper roll 106 itself inherently will not unroll unless it isactively encouraged to do so, and so one does not need to dependexclusively upon outer winding separation and inner winding restraintmeans 122 to prevent this unrolling inside of dispenser case 102.

[0029] In FIG. 1, while tack adhesive means 108 is illustrated along theouter ends of paper roll 106, tack adhesive means 108 can in fact belocated at other points too, including in the middle regions of paperroll 106. Indeed, tack adhesive means 108 can cover substantially theentirety of paper roll 106, since restraining edge 126 is designed to“leaf” under leading edge 110 as paper roll 106 is wound forward in theunwinding direction and peel leading edge 110 back off from theremainder of paper roll 106. The use of tack adhesive means 108 inregions other than, or in addition to, the outer ends of paper roll 106,provides additional assurance that paper roll 106 will not unroll insideof dispenser case 102, and that leading edge 110 will only leaf off whenit is desired to leaf it off. Further, in the FIG. 1 embodiment,restraining edge 126 is preferably designed to press against the entirelength of paper roll 106, including the tack adhesive 108 regions, sincethe paper will separate without substantial tearing along the tackregions as well as the non-tack regions.

[0030] This is one of the benefits of using the tack adhesive means 108of FIG. 1 over the general adhesive means 404 combined with tearablelines 402 of FIG. 4. Particularly, in the FIG. 4 embodiment, whereactual tearing takes place and there is no tack adhesive, one really isconstrained to securing the paper from unwinding only along its edges.The use of general adhesive means 404 combined with tearable lines 402in other regions of paper roll 106 would cause tearing along those otherregions, which would not be desirable unless one wanted to tear thepaper into two or more strips. Also note that in the FIG. 4 embodiment,restraining edge 126 must be designed to only press against and leafunder the non-adhered regions of paper roll 106, since the adheredregions do not separate and leafing under these regions would thus notbe desirable. In other words, for the FIG. 4 embodiment, restrainingedge 126 is located to press against the outside layer 128 of paper roll106 only in regions of paper roll 106 where successive windings are notadhered to one another. In the FIG. 1 embodiment, restraining edge 126may be located to press against the outside layer 128 of paper roll 106in at least one region of paper roll 106 where successive windings areadhered to one another. While recognizing that the embodiment of FIG. 1is thus preferred, the embodiment of FIG. 4 nevertheless remains anacceptable embodiment.

[0031] As a general rule, it is desirable to design paper roll dispenser1 to accept either type of paper roll, i.e., either the FIG. 1 or theFIG. 4 type paper roll 106. Thus, of one sticks to using a tack orgeneral adhesive along only the outer ends of paper roll 106,restraining edge 126 should be designed to only press against and leafunder the non-adhered regions of paper roll 106, so that either type ofpaper roll may be employed.

[0032] At this point, we turn to examine tension-supplying means 124 insome further detail. From a functional viewpoint, the key purpose oftension-supplying means 124 is to supply tension to press restrainingedge 126 of outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means122 against the outside layer 128 of paper roll 106, both when paperroll 106 is substantially full and as paper roll 106 becomes depleted.Any tension-supplying means 124 which achieves this functional objectiveis considered to be within the scope of this disclosure and itsassociated claims, and it is for this reason that tension-supplyingmeans 124 is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4 with a“spring” coil next to a circular “hinge.”

[0033]FIG. 5 now illustrates a specific, non-limiting, exemplaryimplementation of tension-supplying means 124, which ismechanically-based. In this implementation, one uses an actual spring inwhich the spring tension is supplied, not by the stretching of thespring, but by the curling of the spring about its longitudinal axis.The mechanism operates similar to a door hinge that not only allows forthe door to rotate thereabout, but also supplies a spring tension thatcauses the door to automatically close when the door is not beingpurposefully held open. Thus, outer winding separation and inner windingrestraint means 122 is attached to dispenser case 102 via a hingeproximate spring 124, and spring 124 itself pushes outer windingseparation and inner winding restraint means 122 toward the rotationalaxis 114 via outer spring armatures 501 which press against dispensercase 102 and outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means122 so as to exert a force in the direction of the unnumbereddirectional arrows in FIG. 5. While the spring shown in FIG. 5 “pushes”against dispenser case 102 and outer winding separation and innerwinding restraint means 122, one could with equal ease within known artuse the spring to “pull” dispenser case 102, and/or to “pull” outerwinding separation and inner winding restraint means 122. Indeed, for amechanical implementation of tension-supplying means 124, whereintension-supplying means 124 comprises mechanical means for pressingrestraining edge 126 against said outside layer 128 of paper roll 106,any form of spring-type hinge known in the art is considered to bewithin the scope of this disclosure and its associated claims,irrespective of the nature of the source of the spring tension,irrespective of where it is located along or with respect to the hinge,and irrespective of the precise nature of the hinge.

[0034] While the implementation of FIG. 5 is mechanically based, it isto be clearly understood that tension-supplying means 124 can also bematerially based. Particularly, there are a broad range of flexiblematerials known in the materials arts which can be bent somewhat out ofshape, and which will spring back to their original state when the forcecausing the bending is later removed. For example, not limitation, thisincludes a wide range of flexible plastics, spring-steels, rubberizedmaterials, mylar, and similar materials. Thus, it is to be understoodthat outer winding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 maybe constructed, in whole, or in part (particularly proximate where outerwinding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 joins withdispenser case 102), out of a material that serves the functionalobjective of supplying tension to press restraining edge 126 of outerwinding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 against theoutside layer 128 of paper roll 106, both when paper roll 106 issubstantially full and as paper roll 106 becomes depleted. An outerwinding separation and inner winding restraint means 122 that ismaterially based can be fabricated in a unitary manner together withdispenser case 102, or can be fabricated as a separate component that isthen attached to dispenser case 102. In either event, outer windingseparation and inner winding restraint means 122 comprisestension-supplying means 124; and tension-supplying means 124 comprisesmaterially-based means for pressing restraining edge 126 against outsidelayer 128 of paper roll 106. It is again to be understood that such amaterially-based implementation, in addition to or alternatively to amechanically-based implementation, is encompassed by the schematicillustration of tension-supplying means 124 in FIGS. 1 and 4.

[0035] A writing means 132 for producing written markings (such as a penhead with ink, a pencil head with pencil lead, a marking head with anytype marking dye, etc.), attachable to paper roll dispenser 1 is alsoillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, for context. But, it is understood thatthe use of paper roll dispenser 1 dispensing papers as heretoforedescribed need not necessarily be restricted only to a combination witha writing head 132. Indeed, any tubular instrument from which one wishesto dispense rolled paper can utilize this disclosure to more effectivelydispense said rolled paper, and all such combinations of the paper rolldispenser I disclosed herein with implements that serve purposes andobjects other than writing and marking are considered to be within thescope of this disclosure and its associated claims. This includes, butis not limited to: pointers, flashlights, thermometers, measuringimplements, and other implements. This also includes a simple paperdispenser 1 standing alone that is uncombined with any other implement.

[0036] While only certain preferred features of the invention have beenillustrated and described, many modifications and changes will occur tothose skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that theappended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changesas fall within the true spirit of the invention.

1. A paper roll dispensing apparatus, comprising: outer windingseparation and inner winding restraint means for restraining innerwindings of said paper roll from unrolling while simultaneouslyseparating an outer winding of said paper roll from itsinwardly-adjacent winding; and tension-supplying means for pressing arestraining edge of said outer winding separation and inner windingrestraint means against an outside layer of said paper roll, both whensaid paper roll is substantially full and as said paper roll becomesdepleted.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said restraining edge islocated to press against said outside layer of said paper roll only inregions of said paper roll where successive windings of said paper rollare not adhered to one another.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:said restraining edge is located to press against said outside layer ofsaid paper roll in at least one region of said paper roll wheresuccessive windings of said paper roll are adhered to one another. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising said paper roll, said paperroll comprising: tack adhesive means for adhering successive windings ofsaid paper roll to one another when said outer winding is not pulledaway from its inwardly-adjacent winding and simultaneously enabling saidadhesion to be broken without substantial tearing of the paper when saidouter winding is pulled away from said inwardly-adjacent winding.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4, wherein: said restraining edge is located to pressagainst said outside layer of said paper roll in at least one region ofsaid paper roll where said successive windings of said paper roll areadhered to one another.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisingsaid paper roll, said paper roll comprising: general adhesive means foradhering successive windings of said paper roll to one another alongregions of said paper roll comprising said general adhesive; andtearable lines bounding said regions of said paper roll comprising saidgeneral adhesive means from regions of said paper roll not comprisingsaid general adhesive means; wherein: when said outer winding separationand inner winding restraint means causes said outer winding of saidpaper roll to separate from its inwardly-adjacent winding, said regionsof said paper roll not comprising said general adhesive means separateby tearing along said tearable lines while said regions of said paperroll comprising said general adhesive means remain adhered to oneanother.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said restraining edge islocated to press against said outside layer of said paper roll only insaid regions of said paper roll where said successive windings of saidpaper roll are not adhered to one another.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: an overlap region circumscribing an angle throughwhich said outer winding separation and inner winding restraint meansoverlaps with a dispensing case of said paper roll dispensing apparatusadjacent a cutting edge of said dispensing case.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising: directional rotation restriction means forrestricting said paper roll from rotating in a rolling direction throughan angle substantially greater than a predetermined angle, whileallowing said paper roll to rotate in an unrolling direction withoutrestriction.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:directional rotation restriction means for restricting said paper rollfrom rotating in a rolling direction through an angle substantiallygreater than the angle circumscribed by said overlap region, whileallowing said paper roll to rotate in an unrolling direction withoutrestriction.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein: the anglecircumscribed by said overlap region is greater than approximately tendegrees; and said angle circumscribed by said overlap region is lessthan approximately one hundred eighty degrees.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein: the angle circumscribed by said overlap region isgreater than approximately thirty degrees; and said angle circumscribedby said overlap region is less than approximately sixty degrees.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein: said angle circumscribed by said overlapregion is greater than approximately ten degrees; and said anglecircumscribed by said overlap region is less than approximately onehundred eighty degrees.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 0, wherein: saidangle circumscribed by said overlap region is greater than approximatelythirty degrees; and said angle circumscribed by said overlap region isless than approximately sixty degrees.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, incombination with writing means for producing written markings, furthercomprising: said writing means, attached to said paper roll dispensingapparatus.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1: said tension-supplying meanscomprising mechanical means for pressing said restraining edge againstsaid outside layer of said paper roll.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1:said outer winding separation and inner winding restraint meanscomprising said tension-supplying means; and said tension-supplyingmeans comprising materially-based means for pressing said restrainingedge against said outside layer of said paper roll.
 18. A method fordispensing paper from a paper roll using a paper roll dispensingapparatus, comprising the steps of: restraining inner windings of saidpaper roll from unrolling while simultaneously separating an outerwinding of said paper roll from its inwardly-adjacent winding, usingouter winding separation and inner winding restraint means therefor; andpressing a restraining edge of said outer winding separation and innerwinding restraint means against an outside layer of said paper roll,both when said paper roll is substantially full and as said paper rollbecomes depleted, using tension-supplying means therefor.
 19. Themethod-of claim 18, further comprising the step of: pressing saidrestraining edge against said outside layer of said paper roll only inregions of said paper roll where successive windings of said paper rollare not adhered to one another.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising the step of: pressing said restraining edge against saidoutside layer of said paper roll in at least one region of said paperroll where successive windings of said paper roll are adhered to oneanother.
 21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:adhering successive windings of said paper roll to one another when saidouter winding is not pulled away from its inwardly-adjacent winding andsimultaneously enabling said adhesion to be broken without substantialtearing of the paper when said outer winding is pulled away from saidinwardly adjacent winding, using a tack adhesive.
 22. The method ofclaim 21, further comprising the step of: pressing said restraining edgeagainst said outside layer of said paper roll in at least one region ofsaid paper roll where said successive windings of said paper roll areadhered to one another.
 23. The method of claim 18, further comprisingthe steps of: adhering successive windings of said paper roll to oneanother using a general adhesive along regions of said paper rollcomprising said general adhesive; bounding said regions of said paperroll comprising said general adhesive means from regions of said paperroll not comprising said general adhesive means using tearable lines;separating said regions of said paper roll not comprising said generaladhesive means by tearing along said tearable lines while regions ofsaid paper roll comprising said general adhesive remain adhered to oneanother, when said outer winding separation and inner winding restraintmeans causes said outer winding of said paper roll to separate from itsinwardly-adjacent winding.
 24. The method of claim 23, furthercomprising the step of: pressing said restraining edge against saidoutside layer of said paper roll only in said regions of said paper rollwhere said successive windings of said paper roll are not adhered to oneanother.
 25. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:circumscribing an angle through which said outer winding separation andinner winding restraint means overlaps with a dispensing case of saidpaper roll dispensing apparatus adjacent a cutting edge of saiddispensing case, thereby defining an overlap region.
 26. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising the step of: restricting said paper rollfrom rotating in a rolling direction through an angle substantiallygreater than a predetermined angle, while allowing said paper roll torotate in an unrolling direction without restriction, using directionalrotation restriction means therefor.
 27. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising the step of: restricting said paper roll from rotating in arolling direction through an angle substantially greater than the anglecircumscribed by said overlap region, while allowing said paper roll torotate in an unrolling direction without restriction, using directionalrotation restriction means therefor.
 28. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising the steps of: circumscribing the angle of said overlap regionto be greater than approximately ten degrees; and circumscribing theangle of said overlap region to be less than approximately one hundredeighty degrees.
 29. The method of claim 25, further comprising the stepsof: circumscribing the angle of said overlap region to be greater thanapproximately thirty degrees; and circumscribing the angle of saidoverlap region to be less than approximately sixty degrees.
 30. Themethod of claim 27, further comprising the steps of: circumscribing theangle of said overlap region to be greater than approximately tendegrees; and circumscribing the angle of said overlap region to be lessthan approximately one hundred eighty degrees.
 31. The method of claim27, further comprising the steps of: circumscribing the angle of saidoverlap region to be greater than approximately thirty degrees; andcircumscribing the angle of said overlap region to be less thanapproximately sixty degrees.
 32. The method of claim 18, in combinationa method for producing written markings using writing means therefor,further comprising the step of: attaching said writing means to saidpaper roll dispensing apparatus.
 33. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising the step of: pressing said restraining edge against saidoutside layer of said paper roll, using said tension-supplying meanscomprising mechanical means therefor.
 34. The method of claim 18,further comprising the steps of: comprising said outer windingseparation and inner winding restraint means of said tension-supplyingmeans; and pressing said restraining edge against said outside layer ofsaid paper roll, using said tension-supplying means comprisingmaterially-based means therefor.